almeister

Hi All Hope everyone is well ! Thought I would refresh my old topic as I still have tsubas to see if anyone else has any other opinions ? Stay well and be safe ! Kindest regards , Cheers , AlanK

Vermithrax The word "mumei" means unsigned Which could possibly lead to a result in differing attributions Kind regards , AlanK

As Brian said, A fatal flaw is a fatal flaw ! Any serious collector would never buy it as resale value is close to nothing if problem is disclosed as it should be . If one of the authorities are willing to certify it , than I'm sure it will be noted on the certificate if buyer aware. Buyer beware may not apply if the blade changes hands several times after original purchase Yeah sure , there's always the assumption that he's only gona chop down banana trees with it! Sticky situations are sometimes best avoided before regret Respectfully , AlanK

When you consider the time/effort/research that goes into Markus's translation services/literature you really do appreciate the small amount you have paid for his services " Totally Recommend - Excellent Work Markus ! " ???????????? AlanK

Hi I have these 2 which i posted a while back under motif/theme Members gave 2 possibilities 1- Handaka Sonja - 1 of 16 of Budda's apostles who was known for his dragon 2- Sennin Chinnan - the wandering hermit who would thrust his cane into the ground to awaken the dragon to merge up into the sky & open up rain clouds in drought stricken areas I still don't know which of the 2 ? Nevertheless they are happily mounted on a pair of blades Cheers AlanK

Hi Chris You will need to take more pics Include both sides of nakago - including areas under habaki for the experts to give you more ( I am certainly no expert ) The pic of nakago you posted appears to have orange tinge above top mekugi ana which could mean active corrosion starting - it also appears scaly around that area with a hairline running linearly along the ridge into the top mekugi ana - however this may just be the pic you posted - some pics give false impressions ! I hope there was no mention of saiha/heat effected I would suggest include keeping the nakago & under the habaki oiled (not just the blade ) as well - as we have high humidity in some areas of Australia - especially where I'm from - up north Singer sewing machine oil is good ! All the Best Chris ! Cheers , AlanK

Thanks for the honest answer Chris ! I to am in Australia ☺???????? I think we'll both be waiting a while before we see another shinsa here ???? So with a fake signature - the only thing one can attempt to do is kantei it to a smith - good luck with that ???? If you're not already aware - if shinsa fails the blade to the signed smith - but believe it is made by the same school as the smith - sometimes they offer the option of mei removal which can be done by experienced Polishers - from there the blade can be re submitted & an "Attribution Only " to the school can be certified to the blade - however this is generally only going to be considered for a " Big Name " smith As you said " It's about you being happy with what you got ! " ???? All The Best ! Alan.K

Hi Ben Based on your post - I'm guessing that the katana wasn't certified ? Was the wakizashi certified ? If so - the katana you are questioning gimei - how was it advertised ? Many of AOI'S blades are certified If it was consignment - the owner may not wish to pay certification fees for shinsa however If one of AOI'S blades - did it have ( no guarantee ) under smiths name ? If so - there are 2 ways of looking at it in my opinion 1 - Aoi believe the blade to be gimei 2- The blade has been to shinsa & failed You also have the option of discussing with them - sending the blade to shinsa at an agreed cost - however this may not be possible if consignment ? I have purchased off Aoi before - but only certified I don't know where you live - but the time to get the blade certified was while it was still in Japan - if you're somewhere where the NPO visits - then that can be an option down the track I may be " off course here " ? However I'm guessing the katana isn't certified - in which case I only would have purchased the blade under the assumption of a probability of gimei Just some food for thought Wishing you All The Best & Good Luck ! Alan.K

Hill677 I am a blade person - not a tsuba person - however I have bought off AOI - They are quite professional ! An "estimation paper " (to my knowledge is done by the owner of AOI - he is very experienced Tsurasan ) I received one of these from a blade I bought from him , which included a hand drawn oshigata from him . You have not provided link from what I see for the sale of the item ???? You mention the word " ATTRIBUTION " Generally a professional dealer won't use the word "ATTRIBUTION " unless backed up by a certificate ?? As this is what the certificate generally states - if a certain mumei piece made by craftsmen/school can't be identified - they attribute the work to the school/craftsmen if considered genuine ! Many of AOI'S pieces are certified - however if auction/consignment they may not be , if you see on the listing " NO GUARANTEE " - that means exactly that - no certificate ! You can also always email them to ask further questions - you may however be asked to create an account with them to do so - it doesn't cost anything to do that ! "Edit " - this blade also came with NBTHK Hozon Hope this helps ! Cheers , AlanK

Hi Jean 1st of all obviously the dates etc .. in info given is not consistent ( not uncommon to see from AOI - as they tend to get info muddled at times ) However I'm sure there's more to your quiz than this ! Cheers , AlanK

Joe .... " You got to fulfill every collectors dreams in 1 week " " It doesn't get Any Better than that! " " Lucky Dude ! " ???????? Cheers, AlanK

Hi Nick , Stunning blade as always - Thanks for sharing ! John , Thankyou for your formula! I have several Taisho blades & keep " sub consciously " telling myself "Taisho - 1911 " so all my ages etcc are consistent - however as we know - at the time they start is considered "year 1 " - so to be subtracted Thanks Again ! Cheers , AlanK

Hi Nick , Yes , hachi ju hachi - 88 However, as Steve says : 3rd column in from right (as you know ) Taisho "ju (+) " + san = 13 Taisho started ruling from 1911 (if I'm cortect ? ) So - Taisho + 13 years = 1924 ? It is brilliant to see blades made from Smiths @ this age - so we all obviously eagerly await some pics !! Cheers , AlanK

Hi Carlos , If you haven't already done so - I would suggest removing the tsuka/handle/habaki asap - looking at your pics - looks like corrosion blistering out on the blade in front of the habaki " If so - don't touch it - post pics & ask for advice ! " Cheers , AlanK

Interesting read + the addition of your photographs blends in well ! Bravo Morita San ! ????????

Thanks for some clarification/explanation on the topic Randy ! Thanks for posting a relevant discussion point Gordon ! These are the type of topics we need to hear/learn more about ! Cheers , AlanK ????

??? Perhaps in one small town ???? Am i reading your post wrong ???? There were NUMEROUS CASUALTIES/DEATHS over the feudal years ?? AlanK

Yes Grey , Looks like completely broken off ! &if so what's holdin it together ? Just bout drive truck through it when it comes to a nihonto ???? Could we please see a picture of the end grain of the nakago/tang if it's completely fractured off please John - as that would be interesting ! Cheers AlanK

Very interesting Don't know which way to lean towards ???? Appreciate Everyone's Help ! So it's obviously not a very common theme ? I bought both tsubas several years apart , The most recent one was the larger one off Yahoo Japan - when i saw it i had to have it as i had a blade in Japan having matching koshirae made up for a katana & wakizashi by the same smith - couldn't believe my luck - timing was perfect ! BTW - What would the background of both tsubas considered to be - rough terrain of some sought? Thanks again for all input ! AlanK

LOL ???? F*****g classic Stephen ! But i read the link you sent through - my dragon only has one head ( not 8 ) - can you send me some of the sake you're drinkin please ? - it must b good !???? Cheers AlanK

Thanks Steven & Grev ! That will give me somethings to research for now ! Do you/s believe "both tsubas " depict the same motif/theme ? Cheers, AlanK

Thanks Stephen ! I wasn't operating on full version ! Anyway : A wizard casting a dragon out of a pot ? A man drinking sake in a cave wiyh a dragon ? Cheers , AlanK

Computer knackered , operating from phone - cant see how to add photo attachments? There is no " attach this file " option being displayed ! AlanK

See if photos come through AlanK

That's what I was wondering Morita San ? Are you able to tell me when he received Shoshichii title & if it was the last title he was given before he passed away ? This information I haven't been able to research . Thanks Very Much For All Your Information Morita San ! ???? AlanK